ASPARAGUS STIPULARIS

Family and Genus:- See- ASPARAGACEAE

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Asparagus horridus

Meaning:- Asparagus. The Greek name for plants sprouting edible shoots from the

rootstock.

Stipularis (L) With conspicuous stipules.

General description:- Hairless rhizomatous perennials with tough stems, some

times becoming woody, often with a rather ferny appearance.

Stem:-

1) Up to 60 cm. woody, and branches with numerous smooth to papillose ridges.

Leaves:-

1) Replaced by a green leaf-like flattened stems, known as cladodes.

2) Cladodes, (10-)15-30(-60) mm, solitary or in fascicles of 2-3, patent, glabrous,

robust and rigid, strongly spiny 3- or 4-angled.

Flowers:-

1) Pedicels, 1-3(-5) mm, with 0-2 bracteoles at the base.

2) Nodes, with 2-6(-8) flowers mixed with the cladodes.

3) Perianth-segments:

a) 3·5-4 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Berry, 5·5-8 mm, with 1-4 seeds.

Key features:-

1) Strongly spiny, in fascicles of 2-3.

2) Stems, woody.

3) Base of the pedicels with 0-2 small bracteoles.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Stony and sandy ground by the sea or on rocky slopes some distance

inland. 0-200 m (rarely higher).

Distribution:- In Greece confined to the Aegean area. - Widespread in hot, dry

habitats in the S Mediterranean area. Fairly rare on Crete, known from only a few

scattered locations.

Flowering time:- Mar-June.

Photos by:- Courtesy of Wiki-Commons